Equipment

Members are expected to be fully self-sufficient for three days even though the attendance requirement is for two days. The full list of bushwalking equipment shown below and three days food should be brought for all call-outs.

Equipment Lists and Details

The following lists assume the member is an experienced overnight walker capable of operating in all conditions, including snow. Each member must bring the normal gear for a three-day walk. Excess equipment may be left at search base in a labelled bag showing name, club, home address and telephone number. Likewise, all major items should be labelled with your name and club.

Do not leave items out assuming somebody else will have them. Your equipment must be kept in a good state of repair.

In addition to normal bushwalking or ski-touring gear, the following is required. All items mandatory unless stated otherwise.

Item

Comments

Tent

Do not plan to share a tent with a friend. You may be split into separate groups.

Sleeping mat, closed cell foam

Self-inflating mats may puncture during casualty management, evacuation or emergency bivvy. Take both if desired.

Sleeping bag

Lightweight

Spare clothes

Can keep in a waterproof stuff sack

Towel & soap

Optional. Useful where base accommodation is provided.

Stove, billy, fuel & matches

Ensure adequate fuel for three days cooking.

Eating utensils

Water

Minimum two litres in sturdy container(s). Fill at home.

Food for three days

Easily prepared, nutritious and durable. Refer to separate list of suggestions later in this chapter.

First aid kit & medication

Refer to Chapter 11.

Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat

Weatherproof clothing

Goretex® or equivalent material hooded jacket and overtrousers.

Gaiters

Heavy duty

Torch, powerful

Powerful head torch recommended with spare batteries.

Long trousers, heavy duty

Required for prolonged periods of thick scrub bashing. Shorts are NOT suitable for searching.

Optional. Marking the group number on search boundary markers (toilet paper).

Rope, 30 metres 8 mm kernmantle climbing rope.

Optional. Personal support on steep terrain or negotiating small cliffs. Assisting with stretcher escort in steep terrain.

Carabiners, screw gate

Optional. Stretcher escort personal support, pack hauling.

Large day pack

Optional. Minimum 40 litres. Many day packs are too small for searching. An alternative is to use your weekend size pack for day searching.

Cross country skis and ski poles

Required only of ski skilled members and if appropriate to the search conditions. Only bring a type suitable for back country skiing with heavy loads. Metal edges and safety straps are essential.

Skins might be useful. Bundle your skis and stocks together for transport.

Snow shoes

Optional.

Mobile telephone

Optional.

A large day pack of sufficient capacity to carry the items listed for day searching, including a sleeping bag, is essential as well as the normal pack. As an alternative, the normal pack may be used in place of the day pack, provided a sturdy bag which can be easily carried is brought for the balance of your equipment, e.g. sturdy sports bag.

For members not yet issued with uniforms, clothing should be brightly coloured, if possible, to aid recognition in the bush, or a bright panel or pack cover could be used with day pack or weekend size pack. High visibility BSAR vests will also be issued at search base.

Remember that searching is often done in much rougher terrain and scrub than would normally be experienced on bushwalking trips, hence the need for such items as scrub gloves, tough long pants and gaiters.

Maps are usually supplied by the Police. However, members should bring their own maps if possible.

now conditions require cross-country skis or snow—shoes. Skis must be fitted with reliable safety straps.

Some searches require more specialised equipment such as ropes, ice axes or crampons. If you have completed BSAR alpine training, bring this equipment on winter searches as it may be used. For more information see Alpine Search and Rescue.

Bringing extra equipment “just in case” may seem like heresy to the weight-conscious walker or ski tourer. However, unlike on a normal trip, surplus gear can be left at the search base when the search terrain and conditions are known. Time is always allowed for this purpose. A policy of “when in doubt, bring it” is appropriate for search packing.